by JULIA HARR
Lifestyles Reporter

“Do You Hear What I Hear?”

It’s the sound of “Christmas in the Mountains Vol. 2.”

“This is a huge fundraising project for the Hunger and Health Coalition,” Hunger and Health Coalition Executive Director Compton Fortuna said. “It pulls together local artists and music to produce a compact disk.

All production costs are sponsored by donors, so the profits from the CD sales go directly back into our programs.”
Fortuna said the music on the CD was diverse.

“These are all local musicians playing mountain music, there’s some bluegrass and there’s some other types, too,” she said.

Artist on the album include Doc Watson, The Kingston Trio, Amantha Mill, Todd Wright Quartet, Jeff Little, Appalachian State University Jazz Vocal Ensemble, Rumple Presbyterian Church Choir, Mary C. Greene, Diana and Sarvis Ridge, Joe Shannon, The Lost Faculties, David M. Combs and Gary Prim.

Last year’s album sold 2,500 records at 65 different locations.

The project generated about $20,000 that went directly into funding the coalition, Fortuna said.

“It’s the most successful fundraiser we’ve ever had.” she said.

Appalachian State University was involved in the production of the album.

“We worked with the Hayes School of Music,” Fortuna said “They helped with recording and getting ready for production…Thanks to their guidance and wisdom we were able to steer it in the right direction.”

Fortuna hopes to be able to sell all CDs this year.

“With the economy getting worse we’ve seen an increase in need,” she said. “CD sales will be critical to help provide the help people need.”

The coalition distributes 500 food boxes that feed nearly 1,200 people and 650 prescriptions every month.

They also have a few other feeding programs that serve nearly 1,000 people.

Fortuna’s hope for the CD is that it will be successful.

“I hope it generates more interest and awareness in the entire community about the poverty and hunger in our area and that it lays good groundwork for volume three,” she said.

She said CD production has gone smoothly.

“It’s gone wonderfully smooth,” she said. “With a team of people working on it, with everyone doing what they’re good at it’s been great. Using a team approach made it go very smoothly.”

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